Army cuts: Yorkshire Regiment to lose Green Howards

The review of the army has resulted in 2 Yorks being absorbed into the rest of the regiment

The Yorkshire Regiment is to lose one of its three battalions in cuts to the Army announced by the government.

The 2nd Battalion the Yorkshire Regiment, formerly the Green Howards, will be absorbed into the rest of the regiment in autumn 2013.

The battalion's headquarters are at Richmond, North Yorkshire, and it recruits in the county and Teesside.

John Blackie, the independent leader of Richmondshire District Council, said he was "very, very sad" to hear the news.

On 12 June Patrick Mercer, Conservative MP for Newark who broke the news about changes to the regiment, told BBC News his information had come from the "well informed grapevine" inside the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

Analysis

By Dan JohnsonBBC News Correspondent, Yorkshire

The Yorkshire Regiment was only formed in 2006, bringing together the historic Prince of Wales Own, The Green Howards and The Duke of Wellington's Regiments.

Last week soldiers based in Germany were given medals by the Duke of York to recognise their service in Afghanistan. They only returned from there in April.

The soldiers told me they've been expecting a re-organisation of the Regiment and they were prepared to lose a battalion.

But they said speculation has been put to the back of their minds and they've been getting on with their work.

It was striking how much young soldiers are aware of the history and traditions of their battalions - history that goes back 300 years.

The soldiers themselves say they currently have three undermanned battalions, so merging three into two would leave them with two stronger battalions.

But there are questions about what happens to the colours and traditions of battalions being disbanded or merged.

And cutting the 2nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment is likely to be highly controversial.

Mr Mercer said it was a "sad day" when the armed forces faced cuts.

'Very, very sad'

Ceremonies of remembrance were held across the county to mark the lives of six soldiers, five from 3 Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, over recent weeks.

They died when a bomb exploded under their vehicle in Helmand province in March.

Speaking about the change and loss of 2 Battalion, Mr Blackie said it was all the more poignant because Catterick Garrison, the large British Army base, was within the council's area.

Mr Blackie said: "It's very, very sad and most unfortunate.

The Green Howards has a long and deep-seated connection to the town of Richmond and the district of Richmondshire.

"We host the largest garrison in Europe - we host that super garrison [at Catterick] and we are very, very disappointed to hear this news.

"It will be a disappointment the length and breadth of North Yorkshire.

"There's a long tradition of connection with the armed forces in this area.

"The regimental museum is dedicated to the Green Howards.

"That's how deep-seated connection there is between the community and the regiment."